It'll Come Naturally

"What should I do with my time then? How about taking me out to dinner with you?" Daisy teased, smiling broadly. She had developed beyond the aloof military officer and could now relax with the people she cared about. "No. Leena and I are going out on a date." Edward raised his head, acting proud and offended.

"Daisy, I'd rather go out on a date with you. Let's go and leave him behind." Leena winked at Daisy and hugged her dear friend. She pulled a face at Edward and stuck out her tongue.

"Yeah, sure, why not?" Daisy pinched Leena's chubby cheek softly, and cast a challenging glance at Edward.

"Never mind! Women are way too fickle to ever understand. Alright, my two beloved princesses, where would you like to eat? It's my treat," Edward said feigning a hurt expression as he raised his wallet.

"Leena, where would you like to go for dinner? You're pregnant, so you decide." Daisy asked Leena to select a restaurant. When Daisy had received the news of Leena's pregnancy, she had breathed a long sigh of relief. She immediately called Leena up to relate her joy and her own experiences with pregnancy.

"Uh... Anywhere is fine with me. You don't have to specially cater for me." Leena thought, 'They are all overreacting, and they are even more nervous than me.'

"Let's go to the Westin. I'll ask them to prepare some delicious soup for Leena," Edward suggested seeing the two women's indecisiveness.

"Sure. Leena, let's go there." Daisy held Leena's hand and they walked slowly towards the elevator. She was a caring maternal figure.

The three entered the elevator, joking and chatting at ease. When the elevator stopped at the first floor, an unexpected figure was waiting for them outside - Rain. He was leaning against a pillar in the lobby, hands resting in his pockets. His face still bore the ever present cynical scowl.

"Rain, what are you doing here?" Leena asked in surprise, walking up to Rain.

"I was waiting for you." Rain reached out and embraced Leena with genuine warmth. He had also heard the news and was extremely happy for her.

"How did you know we were going out?" Edward asked with a frown. This time, he was not as sharp witted as normal.

"I saw Mark in the lobby, and the elevator was going down. No one could have been using it, except you," Rain explained with a shrug. It was such simple reasoning that he was amazed at Edward for not putting two and two together. He could not believe that Edward was so slow this time.

"Fine! Hats off, you are the smart one!" Edward conceded through gritted teeth. Although Rain didn't say anything to ridicule him, Edward could feel his momentary contempt.

"Thank you." Rain flashed a cunning smile. It was the first time that he had outwitted Edward, and he relished the moment.

"Rain, why don't you have dinner with us?" Sensing the increasingly tense atmosphere, Leena butted in to defuse the situation.

"Why not? Edward, you're paying, right?" Rain as always acted indifferently and noncommittally, like he was not interested in anything.

Daisy was secretly glad to see her husband being beaten by Rain. She tried hard to conceal her true feelings, but the raised corner of her smile betrayed her.

"You are so happy to see me fall short, aren't you?" Edward whispered in Daisy's ear.

"No, I'm not. Come on! Don't read into things that aren't there." Daisy was a clever woman. She would never admit to taking pleasure at her husband's embarrassment.

"Mrs. Gu." As they walked outside, Mark, who was waiting outside the building, stepped from his car and greeted Leena respectfully.

"Hi, Mark. I didn't know you were here!" Leena was surprised at seeing Mark, as she thought Daisy had driven herself there.

"Hey, Mark! You saw me when I arrived here earlier, right? Why didn't you bother to greet me?" Rain asked with a teasing smile. He was right; Mark had seen Rain earlier when he had arrived at the building, however, he had made no move to greet Rain. "Because Mrs. Gu is different. She is Major General Gu's wife. I should greet her to show my respect to her," Mark explained very seriously. The soldiers were always respectful to military spouses.

"So, is this a kind of civilian discrimination?" Rain was really not letting this go. He enjoyed seeing Mark squirm nervously.

"Mark, just ignore him. Follow us with your car." Edward, seeing Mark's uncertainty, spoke to help him out of the predicament.

"Sure, Mr. Mu." Mark bowed slightly, much relieved to Edward, and got in his car. He now realized that he was unable to deal with the likes of Rain.

"Leena, why don't you travel with us? Stay away from this ass," Edward said while casting a challenging glance at Rain. He was somewhat amused when Mark fled in disarray and thought, 'He still has a lot to learn.'

"Who are you calling an ass?" Rain stared defiantly at Edward.

"You know who I'm referring to." Edward smiled coldly.

"Your whole family are asses!" Rain said with short, clipped words.

"Leena, he just said that you are an ass," Edward said dryly as he took Daisy's hand, leading her to their car.

"Rain!" Leena shouted, casting a reproachful glance at Rain. Aware that they were joking, she decided to play along.

"Uh... Leena, let's go." Rain scratched at the back of his head in embarrassment. 'Damn it! I was so stupid," he mentally cursed himself.

"Hmm!" Leena snorted, blowing through her lips in imitation of a donkey before following Rain. She would fetch her own car later.

Rain flashed a stoic smile, and then started the car.

The Westin Western Restaurant was always fully booked. As they arrived, Rain was shocked to see his father, Sanford Ke, waiting for him.

"Are you Rain?" Sanford Ke asked. He looked old and tired, and he walked with the aid of a cane.

"Sorry. You've mistaken me for somebody else." Rain and Leena had entered hand in hand, and Sanford Ke's sudden appearance made Rain tighten his grip on her hand. Leena's hand pained sharply, but she didn't show it, nor did she pull away. She could tell from Rain's reaction that he knew this old man somehow. Otherwise, Rain wouldn't have acted this way.

"I know that you still hate me, even after all these years." Sanford Ke's frail body trembled like a candle flame flickering in the wind.

"I don't even know you. Why would I hate you?" Rain asked coldly. His face was twisted in a cold rage and he looked very frightening at this moment.

"Rain," Leena called out to him, worried now.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

"Mr. Ke, why don't you join us in our private lounge?" Edward suggested. The lobby was too public to talk.

"Sure!" Sanford Ke answered, happy for the opportunity to speak privately.

"I don't think that's necessary," Rain interrupted angrily. He really had nothing to say to the old man.

"Rain. Come now, this is not the place for this conversation." Edward patted Rain's shoulder in appeasement. He knew Rain hated his father, but he also believed Rain needed to talk with him.

Rain pursed his lips and rushed to their private room, still holding Leena's hand and dragging her away.

Daisy momentarily stared at the old man in confusion. He and Rain shared some resemblance; then she realized that the old man must be Rain's biological father. She sighed with resignation.

"Let's go, Mr. Ke," Edward said to the old man. Yes, Sanford Ke had mistreated Rain when he was young. But now he was old, and possibly did not have many more years to live. Edward was afraid Rain would feel regret for not talking with his father now if the old man died.00000